Main Entry: 1tone
Pronunciation: tn
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tone "a musical sound, a sound from the voice," from Latin tonus "tension, tone, pitch," from Greek tonos "act of stretching, tension, tone, pitch"; so called because the pitch of the tone of a stringed musical instrument is related to how tightly the strings are stretched1 a: a musical sound having a definite pitch : the sound of a note b: WHOLE STEP2: accent or pitch of the voice especially when used to express an emotion or a change in meaning <spoke in a sharp tone>3: style or manner of expression <reply in a friendly tone> <the author's tone shows his or her attitude toward the subject>4 a: a shade of color <decorated in soft tones> b: a color that changes another <gray with a blue tone>5 a: a healthy state of the body or any of its parts b: normal tension or ability to respond to stimuli; especially: the state of normal tension of a muscle in which it is partly contracted6: general character or quality <the city's upbeat tone>